Washington Business 2019 Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 18

2019 legislative review
Environment
Peter Godlewski: Climate Change, Energy, Toxics, Water Quality
Mike Ennis: Transportation, Infrastructure, Aviation, Telecom, Rural Jobs, Land Use
The increased Democratic majorities this session
meant there was considerable pressure from
activists to pass policies which had not been
possible to pass in previous sessions. In addition
to the governor’s five-part carbon reduction plan,
bills targeting plastics, chemicals in consumer
products, natural gas, Model Toxics Control Act
(MTCA) reform, and a number of oil transport
bills were all proposed. While the Governor’s
Clean Electricity bill (2ESSB 5116) took up a
great deal of attention, other major pieces of
legislation on chemicals, plastics, and other
carbon reduction policies also moved.
The tighter majorities and other political
considerations in previous sessions which
prevented many of these ideas from passing
were absent this session. This session saw a
Peter Godlewski is AWB’s government affairs director for environmental policy as well as
continuation of the carbon pricing conversation,
water quality and resources.
with Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, producing a
cap and trade bill after several stakeholder meetings. While the bill did not advance, work continued on the bill during the interim
and it is expected to return in the 2020 session.
Housing affordability was also a significant issue this session, as lawmakers were pressured to provide some relief on rising home
prices and the lack of housing options. While lawmakers provided a good first step, there is still more work to be done. During
the summer, AWB partnered with nine other associations and hosted a first-of-its-kind housing forum to better understand the
challenges and opportunities regarding the growing divide between housing supply and demand. And the Ruckelshaus Center
released a comprehensive study reviewing the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The recommendations found in the
report will provide another robust conversation on housing issues during the 2020 legislative session.
SSB 5135
preventing toxic pollution
Passed/AWB Opposed
Substitute Senate Bill 5135, sponsored by
Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island,
builds off efforts in previous years to
restrict chemicals in Washington state. The
bill requires the Department of Ecology to
identify five chemicals present in certain
consumer products every five years and
suggest recommendations for managing
those chemicals and products. The criteria
the department can use to identify those
chemicals is extremely broad and this bill
16 association of washington business
represents an incredible grant of authority
to the Department of Ecolog y from the
Legislature. Previously, the department
needed direction from the Legislature
before officials could regulate chemicals,
but with this legislation, the department
h a s t h e a ut h or it y t o c h o o s e w h ic h
chemicals they would like to reg ulate.
AWB worked to ensure that any action by
Ecology would be required to come back
to the Legislature to allow legislators some
oversight of Ecology’s proposed actions, but
unless direct legislative action is taken,
any recommendations by Ecology would
come into effect at the end of the legislative
session. AWB also pushed for the creation
of a stakeholder group to provide input on
the data Department of Ecology officials
are using to list chemicals. AWB opposed
this bill.
E2SSB 5397
plastic packaging
Passed/AWB Supported
Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill
5397, sponsored by Sen. Rolfes, D-Bainbridge
Island, originally required the producers
of plastic packaging to enter or create an
extended producer responsibility (EPR)
stewa rdship prog ra m. EPR prog ra ms